FRI AM News: WisBusiness: the Podcast with Paul Leverenz, Easterseals Wisconsin; Legislative study committee on AI regulation holds final meeting

December 6, 2024

— This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Paul Leverenz, president and CEO of Easterseals Wisconsin.

The nonprofit group, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in the state in 2026, provides disability services throughout Wisconsin. That includes recreational therapy and employment help as well as business services.

Leverenz discusses the group’s camping, recreation and respite programs, which serve about 1,000 people at a 400-acre plot in the Wisconsin Dells area. He also highlights specialized programs focused on people with autism, asthma and other challenges, as well as programs aimed at Wisconsin farmers affected by disabilities.

“We like to think of ourselves as being a bit involved with rural communities in terms of economic development, and helping those organizations — meaning those farms — to stay actively involved in farming,” he said.

Related efforts include helping farmers who were hurt on the job, and most referrals come from those who’ve previously benefitted from programs like these, Leverenz said.

“I like to use the saying that the farm community is large but it’s very small, meaning if you’re in northern Wisconsin and you found something that was helpful and impactful for you, that you’re going to be willing to share that with somebody in southern Wisconsin who’s got those same challenges,” he said.

He also touches on the importance of self-employment for those with disabilities, noting “micro-enterprises” can help people trying to live on disability benefits bring in additional money to improve their lives.

“We worked with somebody who developed a tattoo business, and then we worked with somebody who developed a tattoo removal business,” he said. “And they were not necessarily related, so you know, it’s what are the skills and interests of that individual, what will the community support there.”

Listen to the podcast and see the full list of WisBusiness.com podcasts.

— A legislative study committee on AI regulation has held its final meeting, where members discussed a set of final recommendations and resolved to vote on a condensed version in the near future.

Members of the 2024 Legislative Council Study Committee on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Wisconsin yesterday weighed 20 ideas proposed by both lawmakers and citizen members of the council. They ranged from enacting data privacy laws for AI to creating a revolving loan fund to help small manufacturers adopt the technology.

One group of recommendations centered around continuing the study committee’s work through a permanent study committee or a new legislative standing committee focused on AI.

After more than two hours of discussion, Chair Sen. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin, said his staff would work with the Wisconsin Legislative Council over the next week or so to cut or combine redundant concepts. They’ll then hammer out final language on the recommendation focused on continuing the council’s work through another committee.

“The primary piece of this, because it’s the one where it’s just overarching for everybody, is some sort of ongoing committee work that would continue to exist,” he said. “And then encouraging that committee to … pick up our work here, and say, ‘We would like you to start here, further explore.’”

Rep. Clinton Anderson, D-Beloit, spoke to the need for legislation requiring disclaimers when generative AI is used to communicate with a consumer or member of the public. He noted older people in particular are less able to differentiate AI-generated content, adding such a label would help clarify the source of public messaging.

But Kathy Henrich, CEO of the MKE Tech Hub Coalition, cautioned that such a move could herald “the end of discernment” as people would become trained to assume anything not explicitly marked as AI is made by humans.

“If I’m a bad actor, I’m more likely to not mark it, and therefore I’m more likely to fall for bad actors who may be using AI in the wrong ways,” she said. “So I think we do have to think about, what precedent does that set?”

Meanwhile, Waukesha County Technical College President and CEO Rich Barnhouse touted the potential for AI to reduce the risk of gun violence on school campuses, both K-12 and higher education. He said the college intends to pilot technology at its Pewaukee campus to use AI to identify the presence of firearms in hopes of preventing shootings.

Eric Toney, district attorney for Fond du Lac County, said “I think this is a fantastic idea” that could improve law enforcement response to possible school shooters.

“That’s going to save lives in those tragic circumstances where that might happen,” he said.

— Minnesota developer Zero6 Energy is getting $879,169 from the state Department of Transportation to build an electric vehicle charging station in Rhinelander.

The funding comes through the first round of funding under the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, under the national NEVI program. Engineering and design on the four-port EV charging station will start “immediately,” and developers plan to complete installation by summer 2025.

While Zero6 Energy will finance, own and operate the charging station, Faith Technologies Incorporated will engineer, design, develop and install the site.

Clay Norrbom, president of Zero6 Energy, says the project “represents a large step forward on our latest initiative around EV charging infrastructure.”

See the release.

— Eli Lilly and Company has announced a $3 billion expansion of the Indiana-based company’s Kenosha County manufacturing site.

The business yesterday rolled out expansion details for the facility it acquired this year, which aims to boost its production network to meet growing demand for medicines for diabetes, obesity and more. The expansion will add 750 jobs at the site, which currently employs about 100 people, according to the release.

Construction on the expansion is slated to begin next year.

Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of manufacturing for the company, says yesterday’s announcement represents the company’s largest U.S. manufacturing investment outside of Indiana.

“We look forward to bringing high-wage, advanced manufacturing, engineering and science jobs to people in Wisconsin, a state that is becoming a critical geography in our global manufacturing operations,” he said in a statement.

See the release.

— Middleton-based Natus Medical Inc. is debuting its wearable monitoring device called BrainWatch this weekend at a conference in Los Angeles.

The company this week announced it will roll out the device at the American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting after receiving FDA 510(k) clearance in November. This approval allows Natus to work with hospitals and other health care sites to identify initial users and get feedback before officially launching the product in early 2025.

BrainWatch is a point-of-care medical device worn around the patient’s head that resembles a headband with several electronic components. It’s meant for use in electroencephalogram, or EEG medical testing, which measures electrical activity in the brain.

“BrainWatch is designed to bring the reliability and trust of Natus EEG solutions into critical care environments,” Natus CEO Chris Landon said in a statement. “And, because of its ease of use, BrainWatch will make high-quality EEG accessible to people across more communities while enabling remote, expert neurologist consultation.”

The device can be set up in less than five minutes, supporting “quick intervention” in acute care and supporting providers’ decisionmaking process. It uses the company’s NeuroWorks software platform, which can connect remotely with neurologists over the internet.

Natus Medical Inc. was acquired in 2022 by French investment firm ArchiMed for $1.2 billion.

See the release.

— The Medical College of Wisconsin says it had a $5.82 billion economic impact on the U.S. economy in 2023.

The medical school yesterday released an economic impact report covering the last fiscal year, showing 38,500 Wisconsin jobs were directly and indirectly supported by MCW in fiscal year 2023. MCW is also reporting $826.3 million in research expendigures for the year, noting every $1 it spends on research has an $8 economic impact.

“This report demonstrates the Medical College of Wisconsin to be not only an impactful academic and research institution, but also an economic driver and force beyond our state and into the nation,” MCW CEO Dr. John Raymond said in a statement.

See the release.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

Sign up here.

Wisconsin again sets record for number of registered apprentices

Eli Lilly’s $3 billion expansion in Kenosha County will mean 750 new jobs

TOPICS

AGRIBUSINESS

– Dairy companies collaborate with students for growth

ECONOMY

– How small Wisconsin grocers manage inflation, competition and customers

LABOR

– Lilly plans $3 billion expansion, 750 new jobs in village of Bristol

– Moxy hotel plan to undergo February city review amid union opposition

LEGAL